Let's Go Tatsunoko Theme Bar! Roger!

The original Science Ninja Team

Sadly, the Tatsunoko Theme Bar is no longer. It closed its doors on March 31, 2014. I guess there just weren't enough Gatchaman nostalgists like me to support the place. I'll leave the review here to commemorate the visit.

Are you old enough to remember Battle of the Planets? Maybe you first encountered the Science Ninja Team as G-Force before you learned their original Japanese name, Gatchaman! If you are a fan, you know that there are precious few outlets for memorabilia and that nostalgic adults have little more than rented DVDs and overpriced eBay items available if they wish to indulge a walk down memory lane. At least that was the case until last year when a Tatsunoko themed cafe opened on the southern edge of Akihabara. I ended a morning of toy shopping for my kids with a stop at the cafe to sample the food and drink. If you are a Gatchaman, Yatterman, or Hakushon Daimao fan this theme bar/restaurant is definitely worth the effort. If the Japanese language barrier is an issue, don't worry, because Over a Hedge is here to guide you through the process from start to finish.

The God Phoenix in flight

Walking south down Chuo Dori will take you by a number of the famous electronics stores, like Onoden and Laox. When you reach the corner with the Ishimaru Akiba look across the street, about three buildings down, where you will spot Pasela Resorts Akiba Multi Entertainment. Look up to the second floor where you might spot a blue sign with a seahorse signalling the Tatsunoko Bar. Even if it doesn't jump out at you, cross the street, turn right, and watch for the seahorse on the street billboard. If by some chance you find yourself on a bridge crossing the river, you'll know you went too far, so double back to the corner.

大きな地図で見る

Non-stop Gatchaman

Once you enter the building, you will be greeted in the lobby by people standing behind what looks like a hotel front desk. Say konnichiwa if you wish, but it's OK to go straight to the elevator or stairs and proceed to the second floor. At this desk you'll be greeted again. Holding up the correct number of fingers for the people in your party and saying Tatsunoko will be enough to send the hostess back to find your table. We had to wait a while. Long enough to cause me to worry about a lunch rush. The bartender came out and called for the Tatsunoko party in Japanese, so if you key on that word you'll be fine. When we entered, we were surprised to see that we had the place to ourselves. The bartender gave us a choice of seats and told us we were free to wander and examine the displays. Pictures are also permitted, so there is nothing to worry about if you want some snapshots.

Remember Jun owned a bar?

Your party will be presented with a single menu and a piece of paper to write the order on. Once the order is written, present it to the bartender and enjoy the scenery. Gatchaman episodes were playing on every TV, and there was a wide selection of Gatchaman toys in great condition. A number of G-themed posters and murals covered the walls as well. Needless to say, I was in Gatchaman heaven.

The G4 and G3

Having checked the menu on-line (you'll need the ActiBook app first if using an iPad or iPhone--don't worry, it works seamlessly), we were prepared for an expensive collection of themed drinks and snacks, knowing full well going in that we would not be getting a filling meal by any means. We ordered the G Mark Pizza, edamame, fried potato chips, and crepe (クレープ) dessert. For drinks we tried the G1 (with alcohol), G3, and the kid friendly G4. When two of the courses were served, we were allowed to select a random coaster, but weren't allowed to look for a specific picture. Whether intentionally or not, the bartender looked away as if distracted by something and flipped them up so that I could peek to locate a Gatchaman coaster.

Didn't order, but it looked cool

The food itself was surprisingly good. The edamame was no ordinary edamame. The beans were fresh and plump, and had a delicate wasabi flavouring I have never tasted paired with edamame before. The pizza was mild and well suited to young children and picky eaters. The chips were baked properly, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside with a nice seasoning--typical higher quality pub fare. I never tried the crepes, but they received a thumbs up from a member of our dining party.

The G1

All the drinks were well received. Just make sure you stir them before drinking or you might get an unwanted dose of syrup. I am the farthest thing from a cocktail drinker you will ever find, preferring beer and sake most days, but I really enjoyed my G1. The colours maintained their separation the entire drink and it tasted like a fruity pop. When I got to the more alcoholic part of the drink, there was no risk of it sneaking up on me, yet it blended with the other elements of the drink nicely.

When you are ready to pay, there is no need to ask for the bill. As you leave, you can offer a gochisosamadeshita as a thanks for the meal, then proceed to the front desk. They will total your bill and present it to you for double checking. Ours came in at 4100 yen, about twice what we'd pay to eat at a kaitenzushi, but we didn't regret a single yen spent considering the quality of the food and drink coupled with the well executed theme.

By the time we were done, everyone felt relaxed and sated, ready for another round of shopping in the overstimulating district of Akihabara. For my money, it sure beat one of those maid cafes or a quick stop at a ramen shop any day of the week.

If you want your money back, you have to go through these two.